Cooling device



March 20, 1956 E. G. PUTTMAN COOLING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Filed May 5, 1954 M m T O T T m /Wm d T Marah 20, 1956 E PUTTMAN 2,738,886

COOLING DEVICE N INVENTOR. EKNEE T G. PU

K ATTORNEY March 20, 1956 E. G. PUTTMAN COOLING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 5, 1954 I WW FIG :5

73... 3 WW l 4 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. ERNEST G. UTTMAN United States Patent 0 COOLING DEVICE Ernest G. Pultman, Walnut Creek, Calif., assignor, by

mesue assignments, to Kaiser Steel Corporation, Oakland, CaliL, a corporation of Nevada Application May 5, 1954, Serial No. 427,706 10 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) Various devices have been proposed in the past for cooling heated material such as sinter, coke, cement clinker, burnt lime, etc. after these materials have been previously processed, so that the materials can be conveniently handled by conveyors, or discharged into bins or railway cars. Certain of these devices have consisted of rotating bins, platforms, etc. However, because of their peculiar construction, it was not always possible to obtain, while using such devices, an efficient cooling of a maximum amount of the material within a minimum amount of time or space solely to the atmosphere.

As a result, certain of these rotary cooling devices were provided with means for drawing a cooling gas over the bed of material located on the cooling device for the purposes of properly and etliciently cooling the same.

In other prior cooling devices, the material was so discharged into a rotary cooling bin that the ratio of the exposed surface of the material to its cross-sectional area and/or depth in the bin was relatively small. Such an arrangement of the material is obviously not the most etficient from the standpoint of heat dissipation.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel rotary cooling device, wherein the material will be automatically and continuously spread in a relatively thin layer over the entire length of the sloping surface of a rotating platform, thereby increasing the ratio of the exposed surface area relative to the volume of the material disposed thereon, so as to obtain the maximum amount of heat transfer within a minimum amount of time.

A further object of this invention is novel rotary cooling device, wherein the slide angle of. the material being cooled is advantageously utilized in conjunction with stationary and adjustable plow members the provision of a A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for evenly distributing the weight of dead and live loads on the supporting members for the rotating platform.

persing or spreading the heated material evenly and in a uniform manner radially outward from the center of the platfiorm to the outer peripheral edges thereof.

of this invention is to provide a novel rotary type cooling device for etiiciently cooling a maximum amount of heated material such as hot sintcr, ce-

by exposure of the material ment clinker, burnt lime, etc. within a minimum amount of time and space.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing in a device adapted to cool sinter material and the like, the combination of an upright rotatable shaft. A plurality of radially disposed truss-type members are connected at their inner extremities to this shaft. Track means are also attired to the undersides of these trusstype members. An annular frusto-conical deck is mounted upon these truss-type members and this deck in turn is provided with a surface which is inclined outwardly and downwardly at an angle which is considerably less than the angle of repose of the material that is discharged thereon. A sharply pointed conical cap is also located on the top central portion of the deck. A fixed conically shaped hopper, open at both ends, is disposed above the cap in concentric relationship therewith. The bottom of the hopper is also adapted to be located a substantial distance below the apex of the conical cap. Radially disposed rows of adjustably mounted plows are mounted above the rotatable deck. An annular shelf is disposed along the outer periphery of the deck for receiving the cooled material discharged from the inclined surface thereof. In addition, plow means separate from the first mentioned rows of plows may also be employed for removing the cooled material from the annular shelf. Finally, a novel flexible tripod arrangement is employed for mounting the truss-type members and the deck fixed thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure I is a plan view with parts broken away of the cooling device of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cooling device shown in Figure 1, when taken along lines 22 thereof, with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the deck plows of Figure 4, when taken along lines 55 thereof, and with parts removed for the sake of clarity.

With further reference to the drawings, the cooling device of the instant invention is generally comprised of an outwardly and downwardly sloping rotating platform I, mounted within the opening or well 2 in the ground 3.

cooled is supplied to the rotating With respect to the rotating platform 1 itself, it is comprised generally of a rotatable, upright bearing member or shaft 6 of substantial size, mounted in a suitable standard 7 with the standard 7 being disposed in the opening 2 in the ground 3. Suitably attached to the bearing memoer 6 and extending radially outward therefrom, is a plurality of truss members 8. The bottom extremities of these truss members have an annular ring 9 affixed thereto, which may be in the form of an eye beam. Attached to the lower flange of the I beam 9 is an annular trackway 10. The lower surface of trackway i is finished to the proper angularity for frictionally engaging tapered treads 12 of the wheels 11 on the several load equalizing beams 13. Wheels 11 are journaled within suitable antifriction bearings at each of the opposite extremities of the equalizing beams 13, three of which are shown. The intermediate portion of each beam 13 is fulcrumed or pivotally mounted between the bearing members 14 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter.

Shaft 6 and bearing member 7 cooperate to maintain axial alignment of the rotary platform 1. They do not, however, serve as the main support for the weighted plat form 1. The weight of the platform is primarily supported by means of the spaced pairs of wheels 11 mounted on the equalizer beams 13. The lower part 8 of each truss-type member 8 is provided with a projecting portion 14. Attached to each projecting portion 14 is an annular reinforcing ring 15 which may be made up of channel irons or other well known expedients. This outer portion 14 of the truss-type members 8 serves as a foundation for a relatively narrow, annular ledge or shelf 16, which is adapted to receive the cooled material from the main cooling zone of the platform. This ledge may be provided with an abrasion resistant flooring of refractory material. if desired. as indicated in Fig. 3. Ledge 16 is bounded on the inner periphery thereof by an upright annular wall 17. This upstanding annular wall 17 is concentric with the rotary platform 1 and is of relatively short height.

The main cooling area or zone of the device is generally comprised of an annular cone-shaped deck 18, which is preferably made of an abrasion or wear resistant material, mounted on truss members 8. Deck 18 may also he covered with a refractory material, if desired, as indicated in Fig. 3. The inner edge or center of deck 18 is advantageously provided with an opening located adjacent the rotatable shaft 6. This deck 18 extends outwardly and downwardly at an angle, which is substantially less than the angle of repose of the material discharged thereon, to form a relatively shallow frustoconical surface. The outer edge 18' of this deck is contiguous with and fixedly attached to the upper edge of upstanding Wall 17 so as to form a continuation thereof. Mounted upon the central top surface of the rotating deck 18 and fixedly attached thereto is a deflecting cap member 19. Cap member 19 has a sharply defined annular conical surface so that it may be said to form a relatively steep cone. This deflecting cap is also mounted on the shaft 6 within the opening 20 formed by the inner peripheral edge of the deck 18 by having its base 17' affixed to the top of shaft 6. By referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will also be noted that this cap is thus located directly on top of the shaft or rotatable member 6.

A stationary, preferably conical, and open bottomed hopper member 21, fed through the medium of the chute 4, is mounted in a vertical position directly above the shaft 6 and is coaxial with the rotary platform 1. The lower portion 22 of this hopper is adapted to enclose the upper portion of the deflecting cap member 19 and this lower edge portion 22 is also secured to and reinforced by the enclosing hexagonal member 23 made up of channel irons 23'. The lower portion 22 of hopper 21 also terminates a sufficient distance above the inclined surface of rotating deck 18 for the larger sized lumps of sinter to pass freely from the hopper onto the deck 18.

Hopper member 21 is adapted to be rigidly supported of rotation of the platform 1.

and maintained in a stationary position directly above the central portion of the rotating platform 1 by means of a plurality of radially disposed arms 24, which extend in an outwardly and downwardly direction. The inclinat on of arms 24 also substantially parallels that of the rotnling deck 18. These arms 24 are comprised of the outwardly converging and inwardly diverging segments 25 and 26. The outer extremities of these arms 25 and 26 are afiixed to suitable foundation pedestals 27 mounted t in the ground or floor 3 adjacent the opening 2. Pedestals 3 are also located adjacent the outer edge of the shelf I6. The inner diverging ends or extremities of the segments 25 and 26 of arms 24 are adapted to be secured to the hexagonal ring type member 23, which in turn is r-ffixcd, as indicated above, to the bottom portions of the hopper 21 so that the hopper 21 can be suspended in a spaced fixed relationship to and above the center of the rotating platform 18.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the arm segments 23 and 26 in addition to supporting hopper 21, also serve to support and maintain in position a row of adjustable plows 30. These plows are suitably suspended from a beam 36 in the space between the individual furcations or segments 25 and 26 of arms 24 and extend downwardly so as to be located closely adjacent the cooling deck 18. These plows are preferably individually adjustable, and when set in an operating position. they can be adjusted at any angle to the center line of the arms 24. They are also arranged in such a manner that the innermost plow 31 of each row of plows, of which three are shown for the purposes of illustration, will have its edge 31 located close to the center of the deck 18 or substantially contiguous to the base of cap 19. Edge 31' will thus serve as the leading edge of plow 31 opposed to the direction "l" he spacing of the plows in each individual row with respect to each other is such as to cause the sinter cakes being cooled to How spirally downwardly along the inclined surface of the platform in thin hands of equal volume, whereby heat transfer takes place by effective exposure of the material to the atmosphere.

For the purposes of being able to adjust the individual scrapers 30 and 31, any suitable means may be employed. As indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, these means may include a shaft 33, the lower extremity of which is affixed to the scraper blade 30 by means of the bolts 34. The upper part of this shaft is adapted to be fitted within a sleeve 35 rigidly affixed to the supporting member or beam 36. This supporting member extends between the spaced segments 25 and 26 of each of the arms 24 from the inner extremities to the outer extremities thereof. The ends of member 36 are connected to a pedestal 27 and ring 23. Suitably attached to the upper surface of support member 36 is a worm gear 37. This worm is adapted to mesh with the pinion gear 38 affixed to the upper extremity of shaft 33. Worm 37 can be operated by means of a hand crank 38, when the latter is attached to the projecting portion 40 forming part of the shaft 41 for the worm 37. It will thus be readily observed that the angle of each individual plow may be separately adjusted to any predetermined advantageous position.

Although the plows in any one line or row are shown as being individually adjustable, it is also within the contemplation of this invention that means may be provided for adjusting the plows in any one line simultaneously by any suitable device.

Rigidly affixed to the outer ends of the sets of bifurcated arms 24 located adjacent a discharge conveyor 51, is a spreader member 45. As indicated particularly in Fig. 3, this member is advantageously suspended directly above the shelf 16 and off to one side of an arm 24 through the medium of the anchoring members 46 and 47, with members 47 being directly attached to the bottom portion of an arm 24. This spreader is generally L-shaped and is adapted to level olf and evenly spread the material dis greases charged from the cooling platform 18 upon the shelf or ledge 16. The spreader may also be set at such an angle and have its lower outer edge 48 so formed as to pre elude the possibility of material being deflected from the ledge 16. A suitable deflector plate 49 may also be attached at a transverse angle to the spreader 45 so as to prevent spillage of the material from the surface of the ledge or shelf 16 during the distribution of material thereon.

A plow 50 of more or less conventional design may also be employed to remove the cooled material from the ledge 16 and to discharge it onto the endless conveyor 51 in a suitably cooled condition for further handling. This plow 50 may also be set off to one side of and is attached to the stationary arms 24 by means of the anchoring or suspension members 46 and 47.

As indicated above with respect to the arrangement for supporting the rotating platform 1 by means of the several wheel elements 11, the tapered treads 12 of each of the several wheels is adapted to contact a complementary tapering edge on the annular trackway 10. These wheels are also arranged in pairs, an individual wheel 11 being rotatably mounted at both ends of an equalizing bar 13. Each of these bars is fulcrumed or pivotally attached at the center portion thereof to a standard or pedestal 14 by means of a shaft member 60.

It is also contemplated in a preferred embodiment of the invention, that three equalizer assemblies of wheels 11 be employed. These wheel assemblies are equally spaced with respect to each other around the circumference of the traekway 10. This novel tripod mounting arrangement for platform 1 permits a uniform distribution of weight of sinter material 5' on each of the assembly of wheels 11. In order to rotate the platform or deck 18, at least one of the wheels 11 on an equalizer bar 13 is operatively and flexibly connected to a source of power such as an electric motor 66 through the medium of shafts 60, 67 and 67', flexible couplings 68 and 69, drive wheels 70 and 71, belts 72, shafts 73 and 74, and reduction gear members in gear box 75.

In operation, traction between the drive wheels 11 and the trackway causes rotation of the platform deck 18 and its associated elements.

Thus, the cakes or lumps of sinter material fed into the hopper 21 through the chute 4 will be deflected downwardly and outwardly through the hopper onto the deflecting cap or steep cone 19. The material will then be deflected outwardly and downwardly by the revolving cap 19 and plows 31, until it passes under the lower edge 22 of the hopper. The heated material is next carried out and around cone 19 and upon the rotating deck 18. As the chunks of sinter material flow downwardly along deck 18, they will be contacted by the rows of successive plows 30. As a result, the material will be diverted outwardly and downwardly along the deck 18 due to the angular disposition of the plows relative to the direction of material movement. This action will be repeated at each contact with the several rows of plows 30, which are so arranged as to secure a uniform spreading action combined with a progressive spiral movement of the material outwardly and downwardly toward the sinter receiving shelf or ledge 16. From the ledge 16, the material will be discharged in a conventional manner by means of the plow 50, provided for this purpose, onto the conveyor belt 51. During the entire operation, the heated material will be exposed the maximum amount to the atmosphere during its passage through the cooling zone.

It will thus be seen that a novel cooling device has been disclosed, whereby heated sinter material or the like will be spread in a relatively thin layer through the surface of the rotating platform, thereby considerably increasing the ratio of exposed surface area of material relative to the volume of the material charged upon the platform. Thus, a maximum amount of efliciency is obtained in cooling heated sinter material and the like in a fit minimum amount of time. In addition, the novel device of the instant invention permits a simple atmospheric cooling of heated material such as hot sinter in an eflicient manner, without the necessity of resorting to additional means, such as blowers, etc. for blowing a cooling gas over the bed of heated material being cooled.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims, wherein what is claimed is:

l. In a cooling device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable platform provided with an annular gradually inclined conical surface, a conical cap having a sharply inclined annular surface mounted on the top central portion of said platform, a fixed hopper open at the bottom thereof disposed in concentric relationship with and above said cap, radially disposed rows of plows adjustably mounted above said platform at predetermined spaced points, each of said rows of plows also extending across the annular surface of said platform for the major portion of the radius thereof, shelf means disposed along the outer periphery of said rotating platform for receiving material in a cooled condition from the inclined conical surface of the platform, plow means separate from said first mentioned rows of plows for removing the cooled material from said shelf means, and flexible tripod means for mounting said rotatable platform.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said inclined conical surface is inclined at an angle substantially less than the angle of repose of the material discharged thereon.

3. In a device for cooling sinter material and the like, the combination of a rotatable platform provided with an annular gradually inclined conical surface, a cap having a continuous, annular, and sharply inclined conical surface mounted on the top central portion of said platform, a fixed hopper provided with an open bottom disposed in concentric relationship with and above said cap, adjustably mounted plows arranged in radially disposed rows above said platform, each of said rows of plows also extending across the annular surface of said platform for the major portion of the radius thereof, the innermost plow in each row of plows being located substantially contiguous to said central cap, shelf means disposed along the outer periphery of the rotating platform for receiving the cooled material ejected from the inclined conical surface of the platform, plow means separate from said first mentioned rows of plows for removing the cooled material from said shelf means, and flexible tripod means for mounting said rotatable platform and driving said platform.

4. In a device for cooling sinter material and the like, the combination of an annular eonically shaped rotatable platform exposed to the atmosphere, said platform being provided with a surface inclined downwardly and outwardly at an angle substantially less than the angle of repose of the material discharged thereon, a sharply pointed conical cap located on the top central portion of said platform, a fixed hopper provided with an open bottom disposed in concentric relationship with and above said cap, adjustably mounted plows arranged in radially disposed rows located above said platform at predetermined spaced points, each of said rows of plows also extending across the annular surface of the said platform for the major portion of the radius thereof, annular shelf means disposed along the outer periphery of said platform for receiving cooled material from the inclined surface thereof, plow means separate from said first mentioned rows of plows for removing the cooled material from said shelf means, flexible tripod means for mounting said rotatable platform, and means for rotating said platform.

5. In a device for cooling sinter material and the like, the combination of an annular conically shaped rotatable platform exposed to the atmosphere, said platform being provided with a surface inclined downwardly and outwardly at an angle substantially less than the angle of repose of the material discharged thereon, a sharply pointed conical cap located on the top central portion of said platform, a fixed hopper provided with an open bot tom disposed in concentric relationship with and above said cap, adjustably mounted plows arranged in radially disposed rows located above said platform at predetermined spaced points, each of said rows of plows also extending across the annular surface of said platform for the major portion of the radius thereof, annular shelf means disposed along the outer periphery of said platform for receiving cooled material from the inclined surface, plow means separate from said first mentioned rows of plows for removing the cooled material from said shelf means, spreader means for distributing the material evenly on said shelf means, flexible tripod means for mounting said rotatable platform, and means for rotating said platform.

6. In a cooling device of the character described, the combination of an upright central rotatable shaft, a plurality of radially disposed truss-type members connected to said shaft, track means attached to the undersides of said truss-type members, an annular conically shaped deck mounted upon the tops of said truss-type members. a sharply pointed conical cap located on the top central portion of said deck, a fixed conically shaped hopper open at the bottom end disposed in concentric relationship with and above said cap, the bottom of said hopper being located a substantial distance below the apex of said conical cap, adjustably mounted plows arranged in radially disposed rows located above said deck, each of said rows of plows also extending across the annular surface of said deck for the major portion of the radius thereof, annular shelf means located along the outer periphery of said deck for receiving the cooled material discharged from the inclined surface thereof, plow means separate from said first mentioned rows of plows for removing the cooled material from said shelf means, flexible tripod means for mounting the said truss-type members and the deck atfixed thereto, said means including a plurality of spaced, pivotally mounted equalizing bars, and rollers affixed to each of the extremities of said bars, said rollers being engageable with the track means affixed to the undersides of said truss-type members.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein the conical shaped deck is provided with a surface inclined downwardly and outwardly at an angle substantially less than the angle of repose of the material discharged there- 8. In a cooling device of the character described, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a plurality of radially disposed truss-type frame members connected to said shaft, track means attached to the undersides of said truss-type frame members, an annular conically shaped deck mounted upon the tops of and supported by said truss-type frame members, said deck being provided with a surface inclined downwardly and outwardly at an angle substantially less than the angle of repose of the material discharged thereon, a sharply pointed conical cap located on the top central portion of said deck, a fixed comically shaped hopper open at the bottom end thereof disposed in concentric relationship with and above said cap, the bottom of said hopper being located a substantial distance below the apex of the said cap, adjustably mounted plows arranged in radially disposed inclined rows located above said deck, the innermost plow in a row of plows being substantially contiguous with said cap member, each of said rows of plows also extending across the annular surface of said deck for the major portion of the radius thereof, annular shelf means located along the outer periphery of said deck for receiving the cooled material discharged from the inclined surface of said deck, plow means separate from said first mentioned rows of plows for removing the cooled material from said shelf means and flexible tripod means engageable with said track means for mounting said truss-type frame members members and the deck afiixed thereto.

9. The combination defined in claim 8, including spreader means for evenly distributing the material being cooled on said annular shelf means.

10. The combination defined in claim 8, wherein said flexible tripod means for mounting said truss-type frame members and the said deck includes a plurality of spaced, pivotally mounted equalizing arms, and rollers affixed to each of the extremities of said arms, said rollers being engageable with the track means affixed to the undersides of said truss-type frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

